N.Ireland v Germany preview

[bastian]

N.Ireland v Germany preview
by Peter ORourke -


Northern Ireland play host to Germany to celebrate the Irish Football Association's 125th anniversary.

Lawrie Sanchez's men take on Jurgen Klinsmann's star-studded Germany at Windsor Park to mark the start of the anniversary celebrations.

Northern Ireland are aiming for their first win at home in four years and their first victory since beating Trinidad & Tobago last June.

"The game with Germany is a tough one for the players at the end of a long hard season but it is great for the association and the fans," said Sanchez.

"I want us to put in a big performance for the fans. They have provided sensational support for us this season and I'd love to reward them with a win.

"It's about time we won a football match at home and give them something to enjoy over the summer."

Sanchez is also hoping that Northern Ireland can end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high after two successive defeats in their last two outings.

"We've got England, Azerbaijan and Wales to come to Belfast and Austria away and hopefully we can learn from the first half of the campaign.

"We can finish third or fourth in this group and we can do that if we can stick one or two wins together."

Northern Ireland defender George McCartney is confident they can pull off a shock by beating Germany on Saturday.

"There are always upsets in football and it is just how you perform on the day," said McCartney.

"We'll be giving it 110 percent out there and the Germans may be coming over thinking it is just a walk in the park for them, but that's not going to be the case. We'll be in their faces and hopefully trying to get a result out of the game."

Keith Gillespie, Jeff Whitley, Phil Mulryne, Colin Murdock and James Quinn are all pondering dropping out of the squad as in being free agents they are concerned about the risk of injury if they play.

Michael Ingham is expected to make his debut for Northern Ireland at some point in the game after receiving a call-up into the squad.

Aaron Hughes is missing for the hosts, meaning Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor will take the captain's armband.

Gareth McAuley and Chris Brunt have been handed late call-ups to the squad.

Germany are expected to field a strong line-up as they continue their preparations for next summer's World Cup finals as hosts.

Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann is missing as he recovers from a broken foot he sustained in The Reds' UEFA Champions League win over Milan.

Miroslav Klose is also absent after he pulled out of the squad with knee problems, but Klinsmann is able to recall all his Bayern Munich stars after they played against Germany in midweek to mark the opening of the club's new stadium.

[Distant Voices]

Looks like our defence will be

Owemoyela-Huth-Mertesacker-Hitzslperger

Help!

[Zimmer86]

hey all anyone know where i can find live coverage on the net?

[ACBerb]

If you can read German, it's on Kicker online.

[Switchblade]

What is the point of this thread?? We all know Germany will win :laugh

[Gerry_BMG]

What is the point of this thread?? We all know Germany will win :laugh
Well, the world is a uncertain place you cant say it in advance, so pray for Ireland and bet some money on them

[Gerry_BMG]

We are one man down, hafter Huth avoided a goal with his left hand. Asamoah equalised... Germany plays like they are playing under bad Rudi Völler-days. I see the Klinsmann factor vanishing... damn

[Schwalker]

3-1 now....Ballack

[ACBerb]

4-1 Podolski (and we're a man down)?

[Gerry_BMG]

4-1 Podolski (and we're a man down)?
yeah, we were. 2nd half was much better. Schweini and Deisler made the game much better. Schweinsteiger becomes a great player :clap

[ACBerb]

This is good to here, so you watched the game eh, I was stuck with the ticker! :rolleyes:

[Gerry_BMG]

This is good to here, so you watched the game eh, I was stuck with the ticker! :rolleyes:
Well, it wasnt an exciting game. But its NT-football so a true fan like me has to watch it right? :rolleyes:
Enough left of this saturday. I wish you a nice weekend, I hope to get some ass tonight. Wish me luck. :cool:drinkbeer:USA_Blue

[ACBerb]

I hope to get some ass tonight. Wish me luck. :cool:drinkbeer:USA_Blue

I would G. but me and you both know you don't need luck! :drinkbeer

[ACBerb]

Question... Huth kicked one in his own net (which I watched this morning thanks to Zed's highlight real in the Bayern forum) when a German 11 played Bayern Munich. Now he tries to stop a goal with his hand and gets red carded and his ass kicked off the field! :nono Does anyone think maybe this guy is a bit of a risk to have in the National team? I mean I'm begining to see why he isn't a regular at Chelsky, or am I just seeing the bad side of this guy?

[Ballack13]

Yeah, I am not a fan of his either. He is amazing in the air but he is quite clumsy and doesnt have pace.

How did Mertesacker play?

[ACBerb]

The team

[ACBerb]

The first goal scorer...

[crusader]

Just back from the game:woot met with some of you germans and I will post my thoughts on the game when I clear my head.:drinkbeer
Its NORTHERN IRELAND not ireland and the fans I met with said the Northern Ireland fans where crazy:woot :woot :woot :woot and dont stop singing.

I just want to say thanks to :clap Gremany:clap for coming over to play us in our 125 anniversary match and it was a good match talk tomorow im off out.


:bowing HEALY:bowing ,HEALY:bowing , HEALY:bowing , HEALY:bowing

[ACBerb]

the last goal scorer...

[ACBerb]

Northern Ireland 1-4 Germany
Two second-half goals inside three minutes from captain Michael Ballack helped ten-man Germany to a friendly victory in Northern Ireland.

Shock lead
The visitors were forced to come from behind, however, after the hosts took an unexpected lead through David Healy's penalty after Robert Huth had been penalised for handball. The Chelsea FC defender was also dismissed but Germany were level inside a minute thanks to Gerald Asamoah. Ballack then scored two quick goals midway through the second half before substitute Lucas Podolski sealed victory for the FIFA World Cup hosts, neatly slotting past replacement goalkeeper Michael Ingham.

Taylor saves
Northern Ireland's first choice custodian, German-born Maik Taylor, was forced into action soon after the whistle, denying both Ballack and Kevin Kuranyi with superb saves. But after weathering the early storm, the hosts took a surprise lead after Huth handled Keith Gillespie's goalbound shot on the line following good work from Steven Davis.

Milestone occasion
With the German defender duly dismissed, Healy stepped up to send the spot-kick low into corner of the net. The Windsor Park crowd, who were marking the Irish Football Association's 125th anniversary, were still celebrating when the Germans equalised, Ballack chipping in a cross for Asamoah to cushion and level with a left-footed drive.

Davis denied
Northern Ireland should have regained the advantage before the half-hour mark, when Stuart Elliott showed superb skill on the left wing before delivering a well-flighted cross. The centre eluded Jens Lehmann, but the onrushing Davis somehow headed over from just five metres.

Tactical switch
The miss proved pivotal and Germany soon wrested the initiative, although Kuranyi's shot did not trouble Taylor while Fabian Ernst sent a header wide. Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez responded by switching Chris Baird to man-mark the increasingly dangerous Ballack and the move soon paid dividends when the Southampton FC defender blocked a Ballack shot just after the restart.

Ballack double
However, there was no stopping the FC Bayern München midfield player from diving to head in from substitute Sebastian Deisler's free-kick in the 62nd minute. And three minutes later Ballack scored again, firing in a penalty kick after Gillespie had toppled another replacement, Sebastian Schweinsteiger.

Podolski strike
With ten minutes remaining, Podolski clipped a long ball past debutant Ingham to complete a successful comeback as Jürgen Klinsmann's side's preparations for the World Cup continue to bode well.

[Timonator]

The 2nd halftime was a way better than the first. Schweinsteiger and Basti Deisler changed the game. Michael Ballack made a great game too, with 2 goals. It showed again, how good he is with his head :cool I noticed, that he became more of a leader since he's captain. Good job Klinsi! :laugh

Asas goal came to the right time and Podolskis goal was class :bowing Hitz had some problems, LB is just not his position.

And Huth thought he was a goalkeeper or what? ACBERB, after that aktion I do think that he is a bit of a risk for the NT :USA_Blue though, he's still young and needs to learn...:rolleyes: I hope he'll defend with his feed next time.


Hmm, what else can I say? (again) it was all Bayern who made the difference :cool :drinkbeer

[Coldplay]

Klinsi put Schweini up front in the 2nd half, to partner Kuranyi and Podolski....

anyone think this is a good try?

[bayrene]

Getting sent off in in mint 15 in a freindly?!?!!?!?Im starting to hate that big dumbass (Huth). he is so clumsy and acts as if he is the most itimidating player on earth. He shouldnt start and klinsi should bench his ass and pick players that have potencial to be good like Madlung. Huth hasnt proved sh1t since he came on the international stage. he only had one good game and that was against brazil in a friendly.

[Ballack13]

I dont know what Klinsmann is thinking for the defense...Owoyomela is a second stringer at best. He should not be starting. Also, how is Hitzlesperger a leftback????Just cuz he is left footed lol. His defensive abilities are not great, damn we are really missing Lahm. At least Schulz is solid in defense, He should be in the lineup.

Also I would prefer Friedrich over Huth anyday. I would go with...

Hinkel-Mertesacker-Friedrich-Schulz

Huth is a clumsy meathead. Cant wait til Metzelder recovers.

Also I dont know why Podolski doesnt start. The midfield is world class, lots of creativity and skill.

[TZI]

Huth is just a muppet with a temper problem

[Timonator]

Hinkel-Mertesacker-Friedrich-SchulzWould be my choice too :USA_Blue Lahm is really missing, and I hope too, that Metzelder is coming back soon. (and Kehl)

Klinsi is just testing, so I'm not afraid that we'll start the WC with the defense that played last night.

[Ballack13]

Yup, definitely need Metzelder and Kehl back. Kehl is capable of playing centerback/libero.

What do you guys think about switching to a 3-5-2? This formation has a tradition of success with Germany.

It allows the team to play to its strength in its midfield.

[elmubarak]

3-5-2 can be quite leaky and slow if we dun have the right players tho

[Gerry_BMG]

Stop hitting at Huth. Could happen to everybody. Looked like a reflex to me.
Huth is for sure not stable but Madlung is a lazy player who needs to get a kick in the ass to work harder. Also I prefer Huth instead of Wörns. I think Klinsmann/Löw have this pecking order in defense...

1.Wörns
2.Huth
3.Mertesacker
4.Friedrich

We have to hope on Metzelder to get back to his best. I heard he still has problems with his injury tho.

And I have to say that Kehl deserves a chance after the Confed Cup after his great 2nd part of the season. I would love it if Kehl would have found the right button on his abilities and the right way to use it.
Klinsmann invited him and some other players to a visit in the NT-hotel.
I would pick Kehl instead of Baumann e.g any day of the week currently. Maybe he would have been called up for confed cup but he needed surgery for a long time and decided to have this now.

Adding to that I hope that Ernst will manage to play at the NT like he plays for Werder when in good form. He would be starter if he would play like that due to Frings average form.

There is a discussion in germany now about the physcial conditions of the NT. Most players are exhausted after the season. Maybe its just coincidence but the Bayern plays really look physically still in good shape thanks to Magath. Maybe the Bl-coaches should train harder. I read that the physical conditions of the NT-players after this season are worse than those of the NT back in 1990!!!! And the game didnt become slower, it become more physical and faster.

Bierhoff mentions over and over that the BL plays to slow compared to the other leagues. And to me it makes sence when I take everything in consideration. We live from our fitness, now we are exhausted after 70 min. like against Argentina.

I also remember Jupp Heynckes mentioning it that in Germany the teams train less than the teams in Spain. Maybe thats one reason why we arent successful anymore.

[TheNameOfTheG..]

Last few months Ballack is in very good form, like he use to be in seassone 01/02. Hope he will keep this form until WC06.

[crusader]

Northern Ireland 1 Germany 4

Northern Ireland 1...and we had the pleasure of being 1-0 up at home, and against the Germans too. A cross from the left found Gillespie in acres of space inside the box, he volleyed it towards goal. Lehmann was beaten but a defender managed the best header ever to somehow get it over the bar. But it wasn't a header! It was his hand! Penalty!! Healy, cooly 1-0. The German had got sent off for his troubles. Then, the age old problem, they dander down the pitch and get an equaliser almost immediately. Every single time...
Then we have a free kick, Elliott heads it towards goal, Jonesy touches it from about 6 yards out, from about where he scored against Austria, but straight into the keepers hands with the goal gaping. Then Elliott flies down the left wing with some beautiful tricks and skill ("It's just like watching Brazil"), he crossed to the superb Young Davis of Villa, who heads over. Should have been 3-1 up.
Jones was seeing a lot of the ball up front with Healy dropping back a bit. He had another chance but couldn't control the ball with his first touch when put through and it slipped away.
The second half soon became one to forget. Craigan, who had been playing very well, brought down a German along the left hand side of the penalty area. The resulting free kick went straight in, beating Taylor at his near post.
Then, they were awarded an unbelievably soft penalty after a dive by Schweinsteiger, who had been feigning injury, jumped back into action as the ball came his way, driving into the area before falling over as Keith Gillespie gained ground on him. A yellow card for Gillespie and the annnoying Ballack scored the penalty. Gillespie had one of his best matches in recent memory for Norn Iron, and even played at right back for a while in the second half as Baird moved into midfield to keep an eye on Ballack. However, according to a cynical Dean Nutt he was playing well because he needed a club.
So the penalty was 3-1. Then they should have made it 4-1 but messed up when clean through. Michael Ingham came on to hand Cliftonville 30 grand, but he soon had one slipped past him for 4-1. Gareth McAuley was also given his debut. A flurry of substitutions saw Andy Smith come on to a few more jeers than usual to a crowd who are getting even more sick of seeing the blond Preston squad player "always give 100%". Which he doesn't even do anymore by the way. 18 caps is about 50 too many.
So a defeat, and made even more sickening by the fact they had 10 men for most of the match. Elliott played the best I've seen him play for Northern Ireland. The defenders did alright, with McCartney playing in his club position of left back for once. Johnson was very good in the middle and Davis was playing like an accomplished pro, brilliant performance. Of course we were missing Howlin' Mad, Quinn, Whitley and Mulryne due to the contract thing. Big Quinny would have gone down well up front with them big Germans.